Pontiac, MI – The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Amanda Escalante-Lopez, 28, of Pontiac, with 10 felony counts tied to a series of alleged real estate scams targeting would-be homebuyers in the Pontiac area.
Escalante-Lopez is accused of entering into multiple verbal agreements since early 2024 for land contracts and home titles she did not actually own. Victims reportedly paid her thousands of dollars in down payments but never received keys, access, or legal ownership to the homes.
Charges include:
– 3 counts of False Pretenses $20,000–$50,000
– 3 counts of False Pretenses $1,000–$20,000
– 1 count of Larceny by Conversion $20,000 or More
– 3 counts of Larceny by Conversion $1,000–$20,000
“These allegations are about more than the theft of money,” said Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald. “It is about robbing victims of the security and dignity that comes from purchasing a home of their own.”
If convicted, Escalante-Lopez faces up to 15 years in prison on the most serious counts.
All charges are accusations; the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
